Apparatus for packaging photographic pictures

ABSTRACT

An apparatus for introducing photographic pictures and film strips, and in particular index prints, into a job pouch that has a picture pocket and a film-strip pocket; comprises a conveying device in each case for the pictures, the film strips, and the index print; and a support plate for the job pouch that is to be loaded wherein the conveying device for the index print is movable from a horizontal starting position in order to receive the index print, into a vertical position, holding the job pouch on the support plate, in order to deliver the index print into the picture pocket; and the upper side of the job pouch forming the picture pocket can be acted upon by a flow of compressed air.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

[0001] The invention concerns an apparatus for introducing photographic pictures and film strips, and in particular index prints, into a job pouch that has a picture pocket and a film-strip pocket, comprising one conveying device in each case for the pictures, for the film strips, and for the index print, and a support plate for the job pouch that is to be loaded.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

[0002] Once a customer's photographic film has been developed, enlargements in the form of pictures are made of the individual photographic images. The pictures, cut into individual pictures, are deposited in a picture/film pocket in a separate picture compartment. The film, cut into strips, is also housed in the same picture/film pocket in a separate film-strip compartment. The two compartments are then covered with a single closure flap hinged on the picture/film pocket. The picture/film pocket is then placed into a customer job pouch and delivered to the customer, for example, via a photo shop.

[0003] It has recently become customary to add to the pictures and image strips in the picture/film pocket a picture-like “index print,” which shows all the photographic images present on the film in a small format, in a positive depiction, and in an organized arrangement. This has the advantage that in the case of a negative film, the customer is better able to recognize the images he or she has taken, and can more conveniently and reliably select them so as to reorder prints.

[0004] These picture and film strip packaging operations are all performed automatically. In the context of presently known packaging machines, the index print is simply deposited onto the picture/film pocket loaded with pictures and film strips, before the closure flap is flipped closed over the index print and this unit is then placed in the customer job pouch.

[0005] A new job pouch with a modified configuration has now been introduced in the territory of the European Union. This new job pouch combines the picture/film pouch and the customer job pouch into a one-piece job pouch. In addition, the closure flap of this new job pouch is equipped with an adhesive closure. As a result of this configuration of the job pouch, the index print can no longer be deposited between the closure flap and the pockets loaded with pictures and film strips, since in that location it would interfere with the adhesive closure. This circumstance makes it necessary for the index print also to be housed inside the job pouch in the pocket for the pictures. An operation of this kind is not possible with the known machine that is being used.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

[0006] It is therefore the object of the invention to reconfigure the packaging machine used for loading the old-format picture/film pocket and job pocket, without costly effort, in such a way that it can be reliably and economically used to load the new EU job pouch.

[0007] This is achieved, according to the present invention, in that the conveying device for the index print is movable from a horizontal starting position in order to receive the index print, into a vertical position, holding the job pouch on the support plate, in order to deliver the index print into the picture pocket; and that the upper side of the picture pocket can be acted upon by a flow of compressed air.

[0008] In detail, the conveying device is configured such that the one for the index print has a frame and a deposition plate, pivotably mounted in the latter, having a holding device for the index print; that a compressed-air apparatus directed toward the support plate is provided on the conveying device; that the latter is movable about a shaft out of its horizontal starting position into its vertical position and can be lowered onto the support plate; and that in order to deliver the index print into the picture pocket of the job pouch, the deposition plate is pivotable out of the vertical position about a pivot axis into an inclined oblique position.

[0009] With the conveying device in this vertical position, the deposition plate is located opposite the opening of the picture pocket of a job pouch lying on the support plate; as a consequence of a flow of air delivered by the compressed-air apparatus, the picture pocket is opened and held open on the one hand because of the negative pressure generated by the flow of air on the upper side of the picture pocket, and on the other hand by the flow of air reflected from the deposition plate and penetrating into the picture pocket.

[0010] Upon delivery of the flow of compressed air by the compressed-air apparatus, the deposition plate is pivotable out of its vertical position into an oblique position inclined with respect to the opening of the picture pocket, the deposition plate having a bracket, extending almost over the width of the picture pocket, that engages into the picture pocket when the deposition plate is in the pivoted oblique position.

[0011] With this simply constructed and retrofittable conveying device, the index print can be reliably placed into the picture pocket even with the packaging machines hitherto used for pictures and film strip, with no damage to the pictures already present in the job pocket.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0012] In the detailed description of the preferred embodiment of the invention presented below, reference is made to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0013]FIG. 1 shows a view of the conveying device according to the present invention in its upper, horizontal starting position;

[0014]FIG. 2 shows a view of the conveying device of FIG. 1 in its lower, vertical position;

[0015]FIG. 3 shows a view in the direction of arrow “A” of the conveying device of FIG. 1; and

[0016]FIG. 4 shows the conveying device of FIG. 1 in a perspective depiction.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0017] The exemplary embodiment depicted in the drawings of a conveying device 100 for conveying an index print into a customer job pouch 12 already loaded with pictures and film strips comprises a frame 10 in which a deposition plate 11 is mounted, pivotably by way of a compressed-air cylinder 14, about a fulcrum 13. A clamping plate 15 is arranged on deposition plate 11 in such a way that by way of articulated pieces 17 mounted articulatedly on frame 10, it can on the one hand be lifted away from deposition plate 11 in order to deposit an index print 25 on deposition plate 11, and on the other hand can be lowered onto deposition plate 11 in order to clamp index print 25 in place. Articulated pieces 17 are acted upon and moved by a linear actuator cylinder 18. Also provided is a slider 16, guided on deposition plate 11 in longitudinal slots 31, for removing index print 25 from deposition plate 11. Slider 16 is movable by way of a pusher cylinder (not depicted) via a crank linkage 35.

[0018] Provided at the free end of deposition plate 11 and extending over the latter's width is a bracket 24 whose width is adapted to the internal width of a picture pocket 22 of job pouch 12.

[0019] Lastly, an extension arm 19, at whose free end sits a nozzle 33 of a compressed-air apparatus 20, is mounted on frame 10 The emission direction of nozzle 33 is directed, at an acute angle that can be between 25 and 85 degrees, frontally toward deposition plate 11.

[0020] A support plate 30 is provided inside the packaging machine in order to support a job pouch 12 that is to be loaded with pictures, film strips, and index print 25.

[0021] Job pouch 12 comprises picture pocket 22, a film pocket 32, and a closure flap 34. An adhesive closure 36 for sealing job pouch 12 is provided between closure flap 34 and the side of job pouch 12 on which picture pocket 22 and film pocket 32 are arranged.

[0022] Conveying device 100 is arranged so as to pivot about a shaft 23 out of its horizontal starting position for receiving an index print 25 into its vertical position for delivering index print 25 to job pouch 12.

[0023] The manner of operation of the conveying device for the index print within the overall apparatus is as follows:

[0024] While the developed and cut pictures are being conveyed to picture pocket 22, and the film (cut into strips) into film pocket 32, conveying device 100 is in its horizontal starting position as depicted in FIGS. 1 and 3. In this position, clamping plate 15 is in its opened state and an index print 25 can be conveyed via a transport apparatus 40 to conveying device 100, and deposited on deposition plate 11. Clamping plate 15 is then lowered by way of linear actuator cylinder 18 back onto deposition plate 11, and clamps index print 25 in place on the latter.

[0025] Frame 10 with deposition plate 11 of conveying device 100 is then rotated 90 degrees about shaft 23 into a vertical position (see FIG. 2), by way of a drive (not depicted) engaging on a pivot lever 28, and lowered onto support plate 30. The vertical movement of the conveying device is accomplished by way of a gated guide that is joined to a flange 27 mounted immovably on shaft 23. With conveying device 100 in the vertical position, job pouch 12 is held on support plate 30 by frame 10.

[0026] With conveying device 100 in this position, compressed-air apparatus 20 is put into operation, and a stream of compressed air is blown at an acute angle through nozzle 33 toward deposition plate 11. This stream of compressed air generates a negative pressure in the region of upper side 21 of picture pocket 22, in such a way that picture pocket 22 opens. As a result of the air which is reflected from deposition plate 11 (and from index print 25) and penetrates into the opened picture pocket 22, the latter is opened even further. At the same time, deposition plate 11, driven by compressed-air cylinder 14, is pivoted out of its vertical position into an oblique position inclined with respect to support plate 30, in which bracket 24 engages into picture pocket 22 and completely opens the latter, as depicted with dot-dash lines in FIG. 2. After the lifting of clamping plate 15, slider 16 is then moved in the direction of bracket 24 by crank linkage 35 that is also driven by a compressed-air cylinder (not depicted), and index print 25 is slid through under bracket 24 into picture pocket 22.

[0027] Deposition plate 11 then returns from the inclined oblique position into its vertical position, and conveying device 100 returns from its vertical position into its horizontal starting position, in order to receive the next index print 25.

[0028] Closure flap 34 is folded over upper side 21, i.e. over picture pocket 22 and film pocket 32, and job pouch 12 is thereby sealed by way of adhesive closure 36. The loaded job pocket 12 is then transported off to an output container.

[0029] The decisive feature of the subject matter of the invention is the fact that it is possible, by way of a negative pressure generated by a flow of compressed air, to open the already loaded picture pocket 22 to such an extent that bracket 24 can engage into picture pocket 22 and open the latter sufficiently wide that index print 25 can be added, subsequently and additionally, to the pictures already present in picture pocket 22.

[0030] This simply constructed and reliably operating apparatus makes it possible to refit costly packaging machines for pictures and films, quickly and economically, in such away that they can also process new, reconfigured EU job pockets. 10 frame 11 deposition plate for index print 12 job pouch 13 fulcrum 14 compressed-air cylinder 15 clamping plate for index print 16 slider 17 articulated piece 18 linear actuator cylinder for clamping plate 19 extension arm 20 compressed-air apparatus 21 upper side 22 picture pocket 23 shaft 24 bracket 25 index print 27 flange 28 pivot lever 30 support plate 31 longitudinal slot 32 film pocket 33 nozzle 34 closure flap 35 crank linkage 36 adhesive closure 40 transport device 100  conveying device 

What is claimed is:
 1. An apparatus for introducing photographic pictures and film strips, and in particular index prints, into a job pouch that has a picture pocket and a film-strip pocket, comprising one conveying device in each case for the pictures, for the film strips, and for the index print, and a support plate for the job pouch that is to be loaded, wherein the conveying device for the index print is movable from a horizontal starting position in order to receive the index print, into a vertical position, holding the job pouch on the support plate, in order to deliver the index print into the picture pocket; and that the upper side of the picture pocket can be acted upon by a flow of compressed air.
 2. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the conveying device for the index print has a frame and a deposition plate, pivotably mounted in the latter, having a holding device for the index print; that a compressed-air apparatus directed toward the deposition plate is provided on the conveying device; that the latter is movable about a shaft out of its horizontal starting position into its vertical position and can be lowered onto the support plate; and that in order to deliver the index print into the picture pocket of the job pouch, the deposition plate is pivotable out of the vertical position about a fulcrum into an inclined oblique position.
 3. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein in its vertical position, the conveying device lies with its deposition plate opposite the opening of the picture pocket of a job pouch lying on the support plate; and that as a consequence of a flow of air delivered by the compressed-air apparatus, the picture pocket is opened and held open on the one hand because of the negative pressure generated by the flow of air on the upper side of the picture pocket, and on the other hand by the flow of air reflected from the deposition plate and penetrating into the picture pocket.
 4. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein upon delivery of the flow of compressed air by the compressed-air apparatus, the deposition plate is pivotable out of its vertical position into an oblique position inclined with respect to the opening of the picture pocket; and that the deposition plate has a bracket, extending almost over the width of the picture pocket, that engages into the picture pocket when the deposition plate is in the pivoted oblique position.
 5. The apparatus as defined in claim 4, wherein the bracket for the index print serves as a guide means as the latter is transported into the picture pocket.
 6. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the index prints can be conveyed to the conveying device by way of a transport device.
 7. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the holding device for the index print comprises a clamping plate that can be raised and lowered with respect to the deposition plate.
 8. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the clamping plate can be raised and lowered by way of an articulated arrangement driven by compressed air, and by way of a slider driven by a crank linkage can be moved back and forth, together with the index print, in the direction of the bracket on the deposition plate.
 9. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein the nozzle of the compressed-air apparatus is arranged on the conveying device at an air emission angle inclined 25 to 85 degrees, preferably 45 degrees, with respect to the support plate.
 10. The apparatus as defined in claim 1, wherein a pivot lever joined via a linkage to a compressed-air drive is provided in order to pivot the conveying device from the horizontal into the vertical position.
 11. The apparatus as defined in one of claim 1, wherein the conveying device is retained on the housing by way of a flange.
 12. The apparatus as defined in one of claim 1, wherein for vertical movement of the conveying device, the flange is guided and retained on the housing in a gate. 